In as much as the symbol of love and commitment, rings have assumed special prominence, especially in marriage ceremonies. The most-known types of rings are the engagement rings, which indicate the couple’s intent to marry, and the wedding rings, which are worn after the union takes place.
Despite this, they don’t mean the same thing and imply different forms, traditions, and even gender. Here are the distinctions between engagement and wedding rings that you ought to know.
The Engagement Ring: A promise of an eternal bond
- The Symbolism:
There is a tradition of a ring that is worn by the woman, and it is known as an engagement ring, which conveys the message of an intention to get married and spend the rest of their lives together. It is normally taken at the proposal stage to signify the fact that a couple is pledged to each other.
- The Style:
Many engagement rings can also be seen to be more elegant and attractive than the wedding rings. They usually incorporate a middle stone – an accent stone, usually a diamond – in various arrangements, such as solitaire, halo, three-stone, and so on. The type of metal, the shape of the gemstone, and the general setting are usually made according to the personality of the individual who is to receive the jewelry.
- The Tradition:
Proposing with a ring is not a recent phenomenon; in fact, it has been going on for centuries, although the diamond ring only came into prominence in the later part of the 19th century. Thus, the marketing idea that a diamond is forever – which made diamonds the symbol of timeless love and demanding it to be used in engagement ceremonies.
- The Placement:
An engagement ring is traditionally worn on the fourth finger of the left hand, also known as the ring finger. The ancient tradition of engagement ring wearing was linked with the belief in the existence of what was referred to as the ‘Vena Amoris’ which is translated as the ‘the vein of love’ finger.
The Wedding Ring: Sacred Union of Forever
- The Symbolism:
One cannot talk of wedding rings and not mention the symbolism of union of marriage. Given and received during the wedding ceremony, the rings are a symbolic physical manifestation of the promises made and the consequent loyalty.
- The Style
While proposing, men most often select more complex styles for engagement rings compared to those for wedding rings. Plain-styled are traditional metal bands, which might be created from gold, platinum, or titanium metals. Wedding bands may have plain metal bands with small grains or blinking diamonds, but they do not resemble the solitaire, center piece, or middle stone that engagement rings have.
- The Placement:
Following the wedding ceremony, the wedding ring is worn on the same finger as the engagement ring but closer to the heart. Some people continue to wear both rings on the same finger, while others switch the engagement ring to another finger or hand.
- Choosing the Perfect Pair
Brides often choose their engagement and wedding rings in pairs so that the rings are similar and not different at all. The only crucial aspect is the style and nature of the relationship between both partners, which should be represented by these rings.
- Complementary Styles: It can be noted that couples select rings that are similar to one another in elements of design. For instance, if the engagement ring has caved work or other engravings, a wedding band with similar carving can complement the engagement ring.
- Personalization: However, engravings, birthstones, and other personalized engravings on the engagement ring and the wedding ring make them unique.
CONCLUSION
Both the engagement rings and the wedding rings are significant in the love story of a couple. The engagement ring symbolizes the first phase of life journey with anticipation and stoke, treasure dreams of togetherness, while the wedding ring on the same finger concludes the journey promises of endless endurance.
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